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Danish banknotes 2009 series

In the period 2009-2011, Danmarks Nationalbank issued new Danish banknotes. They were given new security features, making it even more difficult to counterfeit or copy genuine banknotes. The banknotes were designed by the artist Karin Birgitte Lund and have Danish bridges and prehistoric finds as their motifs.

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MotifsThe theme of the banknotes is Danish bridges and the surrounding landscapes, or details from these landscapes. The artist Karin Birgitte Lund has chosen to interpret this theme in two ways: bridges as links between various parts of Denmark and as links between the past and the present. The present is represented by the bridges, the past by five distinctive prehistoric objects found near the bridges.

Among the security features on the banknotes are a window thread with a moving wave pattern, a sophisticated hologram that reflects light in different colours, a watermark and a hidden security thread.

The paper

The banknotes are printed on dirt-resistant cotton paper that is much stronger than normal writing paper. The paper is incorporated into the surface called Anti Soil Treatment. The paper is delivered to Danmarks Nationalbank's Banknote Printing Works complete with watermark and hidden security thread.

Watermark

The watermark becomes visible when the banknote is held up to the light. The watermark shows a Viking Ship from Skuldelev in Roskilde Fiord, together with the denomination 100.

Colours

The banknotes have the same signature colours as the previous series from 1997. i.e. (Violet, orange-yellow, green, blue and red)

Help for the visually impaired

In the interests of the blind and partially sighted, the 100- and 200-krone banknotes have embossed print to make it easier to distinguish them from each other. Like the previous series, the banknotes differ in size, which is also helpful to the blind and partially sighted. The strong differences in the colours used for the various denominations will also help those with visual impairments.

Signatures on the banknotes

Ever since banknotes became legal tender in Denmark in 1713, they have featured signatures testifying to their authenticity. Only signed banknotes are considered legal tender. For many years, they were signed by hand by selected employees at Danmarks Nationalbank, but from 1910, the signatures were printed on the banknotes.

Before 1952, the 12 most senior officials at Danmarks Nationalbank signed the right-hand side of the banknotes and the General Manager of the Banknote Printing Works signed the left-hand side. This scheme was dropped in 1952, and now the governors of Danmarks Nationalbank and Chief Cashier sign the banknotes.